Charles byrne



L (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. BYRNE.

I I VELOGIPEDE. No.' 527,404. Patented 001;. 16, 1894.

(No ModeL) a Q 2 Bheets-8heet 2.

G. BYRNE.

VELOGIPBDE- No. 527,404. Patented Oct. 16, 1894.

FleA.

INV ENTOR. I

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BYRNE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

S?ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,404, dated October 16, 1894. Application filed June 30, 1894. Serial No. 516,192. (No model.) Patented in England May 7,1894=,No. 9,035.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BYRNE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at London, inthe county of Middlesex, England,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipcdes, (for which I have obtained a mounting the driving wheel, pedal-crank axle and saddle on a frame which is pivoted to and suspended from the main frame without the use of springs, and also in certain improvements in the details of construction, the object being to improve this type of velocipede by removing or overcoming its many known defects. 1 attain this end in the man ner shown by the accompanying drawings which illustrate-by way of examplea reardriving front steering safety bicycle constructed according to my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet No. 1, are views in side elevation showing the frame carrying-the saddle and pedal-crank axle in its extreme backward and forward position respectively. Fig. 3, Sheet No. 2, is a view in perspective of the main frame. Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet No. 2, are broken views in side elevation showing the extension of one of the members of the lower back fork to carry the step. Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet No. 2, are views in sectional plan and side elevation respective1yon an enlarged scales-showing the construction of the joint by which the lower back fork is connected to the main frame, and Figs. 8 and 9, Sheet No. 2, are views in sectional plan and side elevation respectively-on an enlarged scaleshowing the construction of the other joints used in the frame of the machine.

Throughout the Views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.

The fork A carrying the front steering wheel X is of the usualdescription and presents no novel features. The main frame 13 consists of four straight tubes 1), 1), b and o two of which I) and I depart from the top of the steering socket or head b and the other two b and b from the lower end thereof, each of the said pairs of tubes running straight to and meeting at a point adapted to be pivoted to the fork G carrying the driving wheel X and pedal-crank axle D, each pair 1), b and 1), b, of tubes forming a fork in which the driving wheel rotates. The tubes may if desired be coupled or braced together by one or more cross stays or bars 12 The ends of the members of the fork G are slotted in the usual manner to receive the axle a: of the driving wheel X and the fork carries at its forward end a bearing bracket D for the pedal-crank axle. The fork O is pivoted to the frame B as near to the slots therein to receive the axle wof the driving wheel X as is convenient. The tube E adapted to carry the saddle Y is piv- (i ted to the forward end of the forkO as near to the bracket D carrying the pedal-crank axle as is convenient. The tube E is also pivoted at or about the center of its length to an arm or link F which is pivoted at its other end to the steering socket or head it or to any other convenient part of the forward end of the main frame B. It will thus be seen that the saddle is free to move backward and forward with respect to the pedal-crank axle thus enabling the rider to vary his position with respect thereto so as to utilize his strengthin propeling the machine to the best possible advantage.

.. To brace the tube E and prevent it from bending under the weight of the rider when it assumes a position out of the vertical, it is trussed by meansof one ormore stays epassing over a bridge or its equivalent at or about the center of its length. The bracket L carrying or forming part of the hinge by which the tube E is pivoted to the arm or link F may conveniently form the bridge as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet No. 1.

On to the rear end of one of the members or fix a male cone H the apex of which points inward, and at the rear ends of the members of the fork O at a point slightly in advance of the slots therein to receive the axle of the driving wheel are formed cone-shaped holes or female cones H, H, adapted to fit over or receive the cones H, H, on the main frame.

The two cones forming eachhi'nge are kept engaged with each other by means of a screw h passing through the cone H and screwing into the cone H, the head h of the screw bearing against the inner side of the fork O. The screw h is drilled out to form a hole h which is threaded internally and the end of itis then split in one or more places as shown by Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet No. 2. To lock the screw it in position after the necessary adjustment of the coned hinge has been made, a tapered screw J is screwed into the hole h to expand the screw h and therebyj am it into the threads of the cone H. As an alternative construction the male cones may be formed on or fixed to the ends of the members of the fork Grand the female cones be made in the ends of the mainframe B.

The other hinges of the frame are preferably constructed in the following manner: One part of each hinge consists of a tube or socket K carrying female cones 70, 7c, and the 7 other part of the hinge consists of a crutchshaped bracket L carrying a spindle M having male cones m, m, of the usual typethe one fixed thereon and the other adjustable thereonwhich engage with the female cones k, k, and form an ordinary cone bearing. The ends Z, Z, of the brackets L, L, are slotted to receive the spindle M, and the adjustable cone m thereon is provided with a dowel pin or projecting piece m adapted to engage with one of the said slotted ends Z, Z, to prevent it from turning or rotating on the spindle during adjustmenti The outer faces of the slot, ted parts Z, Z, of the bracket are recessed to receive round nuts N, N, on the ends of the spindle M, so as to retain the spindle in position even after the said nuts have been slackened to allow of the adjustment of the bearing, which is effected by turning the spindle M by means of a screw driver slot in one or both of its ends. Balls or spheres may be interposed between the cones 7t, 7t, and m, m, to form ball bearings. It is immaterial which part'of each hinge is'carried by'the main frame.

and a suspension frame formed of the mem- V bers'O, E and F,"'mounting the step g on an arm forming a rearward extension of one of the members of the fork O, as and for the purpose set forth 2. In a velocipede having a frame consist ing of a fork such as G carrying the driving wheel and pedal-crank axle. bracket, a tube such as E carrying the saddle, and an arm or link such as F hinged together and suspended from the mainframe B; formingor mounting an arm G on one of the members of the fork O to form a rearward extension thereof tocarry the step 9, as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination of the frame B, of the fork O carrying the pedalcrank axle bracket D, of the tube E carrying the saddle Y and trussed by one or more stays e, of the arm or link F, of the extension G of one of the members of the fork O and of the step g, all combined arranged and adapted to operate, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a velocipede frame, the combination of the main frame B, of the fork O carrying the pedal-crank axle bracket D and pivoted to the main frame by cone bearings consisting of the following essential. parts:male cone H, female cone H, hollow split screw it and tapered screw J, of the extension or arm G on one of the members of the fork C of the step g mounted on the extension or arm G, of the tube E carrying the saddle Y trussed by one or more stays e, and of the link F connecting the tube E to the frame B, both piv' oted to their respective parts by coned bearings consisting essentially of the following parts:socket K, female cones 70, k, crutch shaped bracket L having slotted ends, spindle M, male cones m m, and fiat round nuts N, all combined, arranged and adapted to operate as set forth.

CHARLES BYRNE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C. PHILLIPS, W. H. JAMES, Both of 70 Chancery Lane, London, 'W. C. 

